Oklahoma Nurse Practitioner Certification

Nurse practitioners in Oklahoma are referred to as ARPNs and are a type
of APN. Other APNs include CNS, nurse–midwives, and CRNAs.

Oklahoma NPs provide many services to their patients. They
promote and maintain good health; prevent illness and disability;
diagnose and prescribe medications, treatments, and devices for acute
and chronic illnesses and diseases; manage health care during acute and
chronic phases of illness; consult and collaborate with other
healthcare providers; guide and counsel patients; and refer patients to
other healthcare providers and community resources.

In Oklahoma, NPs select an area of specialization. The
specialization refers to the population served. An adult ARNP provides
health care to adolescents and adults. A neonatal ARNP provides health
care to neonates and infants. A pediatric ARNP provides health care to
patients from newborn to young adulthood. A family ARNP provides health
care to persons across the lifespan. A geriatric ARNP provides health
care to older adults.

Other specialties include women’s health care, for which care is
provided to adolescent and adult females; acute care, for those who are
acutely ill; and adult psychiatric and mental health, for psychiatric
and mental issues in patients ages 13 years and older. If you are a
family psychiatric and mental health ARNP, you will provide acute and
chronic psychiatric and mental health care to people of any age.
Finally, acute care pediatric ARNPs provide health care to persons,
from newborn to young adulthood, with complex acute, critical, and
chronic health conditions.

After you have received your advanced degree, you must pass an exam
provided by one of the national certifying bodies that is approved by
the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. These bodies include the ANCC, PNCB, NCC, AANP Certification Program, AMCB, AACN Certification Program, HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB), ONCC, and NBCRNA.

Once you have passed your examination and received national
certification, the Oklahoma Board of Nursing will evaluate your
application and offer qualified applicants certification to practice in
the state of Oklahoma. In order to prescribe medications, you must
submit a separate application to the Board and be in a collaborative
relationship with an Oklahoma-licensed physician.

In general, salaries for Oklahoma NPs average $82,000 per year,
based on location, area of specialization, level of experience, and
other factors.